Michael Fitzmaurice urges bigger Sports Capital funding, regional hub
Michael Fitzmaurice called for increased investment in Sports Capital Grants and proposed a government loan scheme to help small clubs meet matching fund requirements. He also urged the creation of a centre of excellence in Connacht, suggesting the Galway airport near the motorway as a potential site to serve the west and north‑west.
He praised the Sports Capital Grants for delivering improved facilities in small communities, saying clubs now have places to play and kit out where they previously would not. He argued that population growth and the rise of different sports mean the fund should be increased to attract young people and support grassroots participation.
He proposed the government set aside a budget for a loan-style scheme to cover matching money that some clubs struggle to raise. The idea is clubs could borrow the matching amount and repay it alongside their Sports Capital grant contribution, easing the immediate financial barrier for small clubs.
He noted that Munster and Leinster have major venues and multi-use stadiums hosting sport and concerts, but argued the west and north-west lack comparable facilities. He said a centre of excellence would bring the region together, enabling it to host sporting events and provide equal participation opportunities.
He suggested the airport in Galway, located near the motorway, as an ideal site for the proposed centre to facilitate access and regional connectivity. He framed the proposal as a way to give equal participation to all parts of the country and to strengthen sports provision in Connacht.
Assessment of Sports Capital Grants
He praised the Sports Capital Grants for delivering improved facilities in small communities, saying clubs now have places to play and kit out where they previously would not. He argued that population growth and the rise of different sports mean the fund should be increased to attract young people and support grassroots participation.
Proposal for loan scheme to help small clubs
He proposed the government set aside a budget for a loan-style scheme to cover matching money that some clubs struggle to raise. The idea is clubs could borrow the matching amount and repay it alongside their Sports Capital grant contribution, easing the immediate financial barrier for small clubs.
Call for a Connacht centre of excellence
He noted that Munster and Leinster have major venues and multi-use stadiums hosting sport and concerts, but argued the west and north-west lack comparable facilities. He said a centre of excellence would bring the region together, enabling it to host sporting events and provide equal participation opportunities.
Suggested site and accessibility
He suggested the airport in Galway, located near the motorway, as an ideal site for the proposed centre to facilitate access and regional connectivity. He framed the proposal as a way to give equal participation to all parts of the country and to strengthen sports provision in Connacht.
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Transcript
First of all, Sports Capital Grants has done great things in small communities right around the country. The facilities that are now compared with even playing football and togging out in places that nowadays they wouldn't even tog out, it's incredible what it has done. The one thing I would say, with the population increasing, with different sports coming into play, we should be putting more money into it to attract young people to get more of them involved in sport and to make sure that the budgets are there to help small clubs. Another thing I would do, Minister, the government should put aside a budget like a loan scheme because the matching money, some clubs struggle, and if there was a loan scheme there that they could get that money out and pay it back on the piece that they have to pay themselves along with the sports capital, I think we need to look at that to help those small clubs. The one thing I would say, Minister, in Munster, you have Turtles and you have Limerick and you have Cork Stadium where you're going to have concerts, you're going to have different things going on as well as sport. In Leinster, you have the same. The one thing in Connacht, from Donegal down, we need a centre, basically a centre of excellence first of all, but on top of that, a place where, not alone would you bring sports, but a place that will bring the west, the north-west together, that they can host things and venues. I would say the airport in Galway would be a perfect site for it, near the motorway, that would help facilitate that, that we will give equal participation to all parts of the country. Thank you very much. Thank you very much.